Mush Panjwani

10 Inspiring Quotes on Overcoming Fear + Bonus Video of My Skydive!

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While packing for the move, I saw some of my childhood pictures that reminded me how scared I used to be, of so many things – darkness, loneliness, dogs, water/drowning, heights and more. And I realised how so many people go through their entire lives with one or more fears. That inspired this blog post. Sorry, no ‘Mush Talks‘ this Sunday.

I am not an expert on overcoming fears, but have successfully applied a simple strategy for anything I was scared of: Jump right in. That’s what made it possible not only to overcome many of the fears, but enjoy some of the most memorable adventures like scuba diving, skydiving, zip-lining, swimming with whale sharks etc. I hope these quotes and the skydive video inspire you to overcome at least one of your fears. If they don’t, then just jump right in!

  • There is no illusion greater than fear. Lao Tzu
  • The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Nelson Mandela
  • He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out. Karl Augustus Menninger
  • Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. Unknown
  • I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. William Allen White
  • Fear is only as deep as the mind allows. Japanese Proverb
  • Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Helen Keller
  • The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear. Gandhi
  • Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s the ability to act in the presence of fear. Bruce Lee

You may view some more of my travel videos here.

Mush Talks #9: Become Happier through Gratefulness

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Last week I talked about how happiness affects our relationships, work, health and success in life. So this week, I start talking about ways to increase our level of happiness – starting with gratefulness. Not mentioned in the video, but being happy and grateful for everything we have doesn’t mean we can’t strive for more and better.

Some beautiful quotes on gratitude:

  1. Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. –Charles Dickens
  2. Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance. –Eckhart Tolle
  3. If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get. Frank A. Clark
  4. If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily. –Gerald Good
  5. Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. –Melody Beattie
  6. He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. –Epictetus
  7. Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. –Oprah Winfrey
  8. Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful. –Buddha
  9. It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment. –Naomi Williams
  10. This a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before. –Maya Angelou

You may watch Mush Talks 1-8 here, and please feel free to share 🙂

Mush Talks #8: Three Reasons to Pursue Happiness

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A decade of research reveals that happy people are 31% more productive, 19% more accurate, 37% more successful in sales… – Shawn Achor in ‘The Happiness Advantage’

We don’t go to work to be happy… you are at work to do the best possible job you can and to constantly excel and improve your performance. But we happen to do that much better when we are happy at work. -Alexander Kjerulf in ‘Happy Hour is 9 to 5‘

I look forward to the next three talks in which I’ll share the three steps to increase our happiness. Thank you for watching 🙂

You may watch Mush Talks 1-7 here.

Mush Panjwani is a ‘Woohoo’ Partner and a Certified Trainer for ‘Happiness at Work’

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Yay, I just completed a 4-day program on ‘Happiness at Work’ by Woohoo Academy in Copenhagen – the only happiness academy in the world! Besides gaining in-depth and latest information on the subject, I have also learnt to pass on the knowledge and tools to professionals and leaders through short keynotes or full-day workshops.

The following 5-minute video captures some of the many exciting moments of the 4-day program. It was one of the best training events, and included field trips, sightseeing and lots of fun and games, while constantly focusing on the concepts of relationships and results to achieve happiness at work.

You may view some more photos on Facebook, and my other videos here.

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Mush Talks #7: Three Essentials of Parenting

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Today’s talk was recorded in Hong Kong, during a long drive with the family – Salma driving, Mashal recording, Hur fully entertained! Then edited and uploaded now from the airport, just before I fly out to Dubai and Copenhagen. I know all this effort is worthwhile because there are many of you who are now looking forward to these Sunday videos, and finding them useful or inspiring.

Thanks again to Salma, for being such a great parent and role model to our four wonderful kids! Happy Father’s Day… thank you for watching!

Mush Talks #6: Blame Somebody or Accept Responsibility

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Today’s talk was recorded in Laguna (Philippines) when I and the Learning Time team stopped for lunch, on our way back from the gorgeous Pagsanjan Falls! I hope to blog about that amazing experience soon. Right now, let’s watch this 3:36-minute talk…

One of the most common examples of blaming something or somebody is when people say, ‘I am late because of traffic’ (or rain) instead of saying, ‘I need to plan better’ or ‘I should leave on time to reach on time’. It’s just a small shift in the attitude that can make a huge difference to everything in our life!

Inspiring the Summer Interns of Dream Careers – “4 Steps to Achieve Anything” by Mush Panjwani

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One of my ‘contribution’ goals is do pro bono talks for organisations I support or an audience that’s keen to learn. Dream Careers fulfils both. They provide university students in the US with summer internship programs in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong. It’s a unique experience for students, an opportunity for employers and good business for the company!

Last night I spoke to this year’s interns about ‘the 4 Steps’ and went away quite excited myself – about the opportunity to make a difference, about the potential of students who learn the principles of goal-setting and planning at an early age, and about the beautiful business model of Dream Careers!

Mush Talks #5 (Koffee with Karishma): Happiness is the foundation!

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I was extremely encouraged when so many of you asked about the ‘Sunday video’ that I missed last Sunday. I had done a blog post instead, which is here, if you missed it. For today’s video, I am posting a recent interview in which I talked about happiness, motivation, success… goal-setting, planning, prioritisation and part of my life story. This is a 7-minute version about the foundation for all success.

Karishma is a Philippines-born Indian, based in Hong Kong. Karishma coins herself as a “multi-passionate” creator, as she is a designer, performer, presenter and has a great interest in human potential and the power of the mind. She runs a digital design & videography business, Kranberry Studio. One of Karishma’s current projects, Koffee with Karishma is a show that dives deep into ways to stay inspired and making your dreams come true, in a fun, light-hearted manner. And I was happy to be her first guest 🙂

Thank you for watching!

What is Happiness to You?

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Sorry, no video today! I decided not to spend the last Sunday in Karachi recording, editing and uploading another video. But here’s one of my popular posts from a year ago.

‘Hector and his Search for Happiness’ was a movie about a psychiatrist who feels guilty of dispensing recommendations to his patients that never change their conditions or make them any happier. So he sets out on a journey to find out what makes people happy. During his interesting and inspiring trip, he makes the following 22 observations:

  1. Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.*
  2. Happiness often comes when least expected.
  3. Many people only see happiness in their future.
  4. Many people think happiness comes from having more power or more money.
  5. Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.
  6. Happiness is a long walk in beautiful, unfamiliar mountains.*
  7. It’s a mistake to think that happiness is the goal.*
  8. Happiness is being with the people you love; unhappiness is being separated from the people you love.
  9. Happiness is knowing that your family lacks for nothing.
  10. Happiness is doing a job you love.*
  11. Happiness is having a home and a garden of your own.
  12. It’s harder to be happy in a country run by bad people.
  13. Happiness is feeling useful to others.*
  14. Happiness is to be loved for exactly who you are.
  15. Happiness comes when you feel truly alive.*
  16. Happiness is knowing how to celebrate.*
  17. Happiness is caring about the happiness of those you love.*
  18. Happiness is not attaching too much importance to what other people think.
  19. The sun and the sea make everybody happy.*
  20. Happiness is a certain way of seeing things.
  21. Rivalry poisons happiness.
  22. Women care more than men about making others happy.
  23. Happiness means making sure that those around you are happy.

* These are my favourites. Which one is yours?

Mush Talks #4: Problem or Situation?

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4th Sunday, 4th video… though it seems to be getting harder every week. In this 3-minute video, I share a principle that I’ve lived for over 20 years. It’s about differentiating between problems and situations, and focusing all our focus, time and energy on problems instead of situations. Fighting with situations can only lead to anger, frustration and disappointment. This simple practice has the potential to change your life by increasing your happiness, motivation and success. Have a look and let me know what you think.

Mush Talks #3: 4 D’s of Time (Life) Management

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This was recorded at the Hong Kong Airport at 7AM this morning, just before boarding for Bangkok… then edited on the flight, and uploaded soon after reaching the hotel! I know it’s not going to be easy to do this every Sunday, but I am going to do my best. I hope this helps somebody improve his/her quality of life!

This is part of another one of my 2-hour workshops on ‘Time (Life) Management’, which also covers the concepts of ‘The Wheel of Life’ for work-life balance, and ‘Rocks and Pebbles’ for prioritizing and doing first things first. Thank you for watching!

You may want to subscribe to my YouTube channel or the Blog for auto-notifications of upcoming blog posts and videos.

Mush Talks #2: 4 Steps to Achieve Anything

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This has been one of my most popular and effective training programs for over 20 years. It has helped students, fresh graduates, entrepreneurs, salespeople and managers. It’s a 2-hour workshop which I have condensed into a 4-minute video. Thank you for watching and sharing

You may want to subscribe to my YouTube channel or the Blog for auto-notifications of upcoming blog posts and videos.

Mush Talks #1: Gratitude

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During a recent review of my ‘dreams list’ I decided to fast-track a few items to ‘goals, plans and action’. One of them was to share my knowledge and experience about happiness, motivation and success through short videos. These video will be 5-10 minutes, focusing on one topic. It’s a non-commercial activity, just for the sake of contribution. To ensure I can do at least two per month, I am doing my own amateur recording and editing. Thank you for watching and sharing…

You may want to subscribe to my YouTube channel or the Blog for auto-notifications of upcoming blog posts and videos.

Celeste Headlee: 10 ways to have a better conversation

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I just heard one of the best TED talks about conversations. Celeste Headlee covers everything I try to include in my 1-3 hours of training on communication skills, and even more, in just 12 minutes!

The ten tips are:

  1. Don’t multi-task. Be fully present.
  2. Don’t pontificate. Set aside your personal opinions.
  3. Use open-ended questions.
  4. Go with the flow. Let your own thoughts come and go.
  5. If you don’t know, say you don’t know.
  6. Don’t equate your experience with theirs. It’s not about you.
  7. Don’t repeat yourself.
  8. Stay out of the details.
  9. Listen! Be interested.
  10. Be brief.

I also loved these quotes from the talk:

  • “If your mouth is open, you are not learning.” -Buddha
  • “No man ever listened his way out of a job.” -Calvin Coolidge
  • “Most of us don’t listen with the intent to understand; we listen with the intent to reply.” -Stephen Covey

20 Chinese quotes that pack 4,000 years of wisdom

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Year of the Monkey

  1. A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.
  2. Better to be a diamond with flaws than a pebble without imperfections.
  3. Be not afraid to move slowly; be afraid only of standing still.
  4. A gem will not be perfect without carving and polishing, nor a man perfected without trials.
  5. Deep doubts, deep wisdom; small doubts, little wisdom.
  6. When you drink water, remember the spring.
  7. If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him.
  8. Dig the well before you are thirsty.
  9. If you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it.
  10. Teachers open the door; you enter by yourself.
  11. A bird does not sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.
  12. A book holds a house of gold.
  13. A filthy mouth will not utter decent language.
  14. A thousand cups of wine do not suffice when true friends meet, but half a sentence is too much when there is no meeting of the minds.
  15. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
  16. Do good, reap good; do evil, reap evil.
  17. A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
  18. One generation plants trees, the next enjoys the cool shade.
  19. Studying is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don’t move forward, you move backward.
  20. Be patient in one moment of anger, to save yourself hundred days of sorrow.

The image is of one of the best Chinese New Year cards I received this year, from none other than the most creative Stepworks team; click to see the beautiful animated version.

Wishing you a happy Year of the Monkey!

50 Life Lessons by Mush Panjwani

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Mush PanjwaniI’ll be 50 in a few hours! And as a gift to my children, family and friends, I started writing my life lessons a couple of weeks ago. It started looking like another book, so I cut them all down into one-liners and still ended up with about 65. Thanks to Sara who helped keep the best 50. I hope these inspire you to change your thoughts and take some action towards making your life more dinchack…

  1. Life is fair even when it doesn’t seem to be.
  1. You are not supposed to be like everyone else.
  1. When in doubt, listen to your heart, and take a small step.
  1. Change your actions, reactions and the way you put yourself out there, and you will change the way the world responds to you.
  1. Three things change your life: love, suffering and dreams.
  1. Focusing on all you have rather than what you don’t have is far better use of our brainpower. Gratitude is the first step to positivity and happiness.
  1. Holding a grudge is like holding burning coals in your own hands.
  1. Life isn’t perfect, but it has perfect moments.
  1. Nobody has extra time. You just have to make room for what’s important.
  1. Dreams are important, but only when we follow them with goals, plans and actions.
  1. The less stuff you have, the freer you are.
  1. You don’t have to win every argument.
  1. Accept and expect that failure is part of the experience. Learn from it and move on.
  1. Don’t let your past mess with your present.
  1. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  1. Success with people comes not from being interesting but being interested.
  1. Make exercise a daily priority. It makes you physically, mentally and emotionally stronger. It improves your health and your outlook.
  1. It’s hard to live a high performance life in a low performance body.
  1. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
  1. Friendships need time and attention. Nurture them.
  1. Anything can change in the blink of an eye.
  1. Change is good; don’t resist it. Embrace it and consider it an adventure.
  1. Life is too short for pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
  1. Angry outbursts result in regret, stress and unhappiness.
  1. The only way to overcome a fear is to jump right in.
  1. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
  1. If you haven’t found your passion, make it a mission to find it. The joy it brings reflects in every aspect of your life.
  1. Don’t wait for special occasion to do or say something special. Today is special.
  1. Plan well but be prepared to go with the flow.
  1. Follow-up and follow-through are critical, though few people practice either.
  1. Work harder and smarter – not one or the other.
  1. Travel enlightens you, expands you, and makes you more interesting, insightful and accepting. Spending on travel is an investment in yourself.
  1. Learning is our most powerful leverage in life.
  1. Thoughts become things. Whether positive or negative, limiting or liberating, our thoughts can become our reality.
  1. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
  1. Forgive everyone everything.
  1. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
  1. Your job won’t take care of you when you are old and sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
  1. Believe in miracles.
  1. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
  1. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
  1. You can teach them, love them and support them, but you can’t change them. They are unique individuals who must live their own lives. Let them.
  1. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
  1. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
  1. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  1. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  1. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
  1. Everything you want is out there and everything you need to achieve it is inside you.
  1. Age is a number. Don’t allow a number to hold you back from being the person you are inside.
  1. The best is yet to come.
  1. Have faith. (Sara suggested to add this to the list)

Please let me know through comments which one did you find most useful/inspiring, and also feel free to share your own life lessons. Thanks!

Mush Panjwani interviewed about Romantic Relationship

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One of Hong Kong’s top hypnotherapists, an image consultant and a fellow trainer, Sonia Samtani has been producing a series of videos called Raising the Bar. She interviews people who have done something extra-ordinary that can inspire others.

I was happy to be chosen to talk about romantic relationships, and my love story that started at the age of 15! And I hope this talk inspires people, or even one person, to improve their relationships. Great relationships can often mean more happiness, increased motivation and greater success in everything else.

Dinchack’s humble beginning…

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This was the longest break on this blog… apologies to the readers and followers! It was due to my total focus on “Dinchack” – the training company I formed in May.

Thanks to the support of family, friends, old colleagues and the super-helpful community of entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, the company seems to be slowly but surely getting off the ground. Please click on the image to read the full story.

And check back for life-enhancing blog posts here at least once a week. Check the Dinchack Facebook page here.

The first 8 weeks were Dinchack!

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1st May must have been a lucky date to start a new business – because Dinchack seems to be going places, literally! The first 8 weeks have been nothing short of, well, Dinchack!

  • Dinchack did six training events in Hong Kong, Manila, Nakhon Si Thammarat (South Thailand), Bangkok and Jakarta!
  • Dinchack is now associated with a few like-minded, well-established and successful organizations like Ariva in the Philippines, Kornerstone and General Assembly in HK!
  • Dinchack has started supporting Crossroads Foundation, with every paid event!
  • Dinchack is now a member of BNI International!
  • Dinchack has just hired two summer interns who will be trained in online marketing and admin!
  • Dinchack Facebook page crossed 3,000 fans!
  • Dinchack now shows up as the #1 result in Google search!

July is looking spectacular with four training events confirmed already, and a couple of more expected! On the personal front, I’ve organized myself to work 0700-1300 on planning, marketing, communications, follow-ups… meet clients 1400-1800, swim regularly in the open sea at sunrise or sunset, read related books and blogs daily… and still have plenty of time for the family.

As one of my recent FB status said, I’m incredibly blessed, extremely grateful, super excited and totally turbo charged!

[Photo from the Leadership Training in Manila. More photos here.]